Paramilitary 2 Pivot Design-Terrible

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Tdhurl1103 said:
I'm not too keen on this whole free dropping blade functionality thing......the idea being why I have balked at purchasing or using the Manix series (light utility with light parts and the axis lock). I much prefer a tight fitting blade I have to actually manipulate in some manner other than gravity or the release of a safety button. I much prefer a snug blade with a liner or frame lock...or in this case, that awesome compression lock.
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I am a bit confused at this part. I would bet that my Manix 2 G10 would hold up against any PM2. It does not have an Axix lock, the blade is tight and while smooth needs manipulation to open. I also don't see the Manix 2 as light utility with light parts. Looking at Spyderco locks, I think the CBBL and the Compression lock would be equal.
 
I carried my digicam , S30V Para2 daily for over 6 months when I got it in 2011 and it was (and still is) a perfect example of quality. I have not had any issues with the pivot. I find the pivot system decent and blade tension was snug. Just the way I like it.
 
28gauge said:
I agree with Fancier, my use of terrible was a poor choice of words. I like the knife but the pivot system is less than precise. It did worse than not improve the knife, it is a set-back. I'm pretty confident they will modify it in Gen 3. Time will tell.
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Given the popularity of the PM2 , and the scarcity, I doubt that a Gen 3 will come anytime soon.
 
I have five PM2s, and only one has any problem, and that is a sticky lock. I have polished all the internals so that the blades all fall free while there is no blade play. Lube is also a key factor in keeping friction down.

I suspect that some of these PM2s that cannot be tuned up are microns off in thickness between the pivot and other parts of the knife. If the space between the liners varies, that could cause the play. A good digital caliper might be the solution.
 
I'm in the camp that would prefer a more traditional pivot design. My M390 Para 2 has side to side blade play that I can't adjust out. I've even put the stepped pivot and the stop pin to some waterstones to thin them out in the hope that I could tighten the pivot up more--while it did help a bit, I'm not able to remove all of the blade play.

I don't really get why people like their blade to flop around. I prefer very tight pivots.
 
I don't believe the knife is designed to have a free dropping blade. Can't gig a design for not being able to do something it's not designed or intended to do.
 
I've had close experience with 4 PM2s. My personal camo/satin I've honestly never touched a screw on it in the year plus I've had it. I'm afraid to since it came perfect, and still drops free with no play in any direction. Bought and sold a spare that was the same way. One I bought as a gift had no play but blade was not as free upon release. A slight loosening of the stop pin screw fixed this and still with no play. The fourth was my friend's, and the blade on it was ridiculously tight from the factory and with some play. Think I may have briefly tried to adjust it with no luck and he sold it shortly after.
 
I think that the issue with the pivot is that it's not a true bushing type pivot. It's a bitch to tune and every time I achieved a decently free blade and no blade play, the loose tolerances in the d cutout of the bushing were so that it would shift a few degrees after deploying the knife a few times and would cause loosen up the action and cause blade play. If I deployed the knife a few more times it would rotate back to where it started and the action would be tight but the blade play would disappear. It would do this back and forth non-stop and I found that very annoying. A knife with blade play just doesn't inspire confidence in me, doesn't feel solid.

Would be important to note that my particular example came very tight from the factory and there were burrs in the tapped holes for the pocket clip for the tip down position. Maybe I just got a bad one.
 
I prefer the PM2 pivot to the PM1. My first PM was one of the first, a full serrated won on the factory forum when they were introduced. It bit me. While getting used to the locking mechanism it swung free onto a bare knuckle that was in the way. OUCH! I prefer smooth but with a bit of resistance and my PM2 is perfect, just like a Sebenza. I have a couple of axis lock Benchmades and I tightened them to keep them from swinging free.
 
I don't know what's the big deal, after reading all this I can agree that it is different pivot design, but let me just say this when I got my PM2 it was a first knife I said wow that is one silky smooth free-faling action, and the blade lockup was perfect (felt like fixed blade). Half a year od EDC later, it's still the same as day 1 and I play a lot with it in my hands constantly flicking, closing... I didn't even lube the thing since I got it and it has been washed in soap and detergent almost every day. I don't thing you can wear this thing easily, by normal usage. After all some minor adjustments are possible and what I have read a lot of users have success of adjusting it back to perfect. And in the end if all else fails I'm sure that the good guys at spyderco got you covered and will gladly fix any pivot issue that might arise. I just can't say anything bad about PM2 i think this all topic is a little exaggerated
 
craytab said:
My PM2 is perfect. The issue the Op is having has been discussed many times. There are plenty of tutorials on here about how to properly adjust it. Use the search function to find them.
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The issue is that a small (very small) number of these are oversized, and in those cases adjustments with the pivot and stop pin screws either won't work or won't work correctly - see the post below.

Cynic2701 said:
I'm in the camp that would prefer a more traditional pivot design. My M390 Para 2 has side to side blade play that I can't adjust out. I've even put the stepped pivot and the stop pin to some waterstones to thin them out in the hope that I could tighten the pivot up more--while it did help a bit, I'm not able to remove all of the blade play.

I don't really get why people like their blade to flop around. I prefer very tight pivots.
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JNewell said:
The issue is that a small (very small) number of these are oversized, and in those cases adjustments with the pivot and stop pin screws either won't work or won't work correctly - see the post below.
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That isn't pivot design issue. That is quality control issue and is covered by warranty. If the knife is delivered as designer intended, and properly adjusted none of you would have any issues you described and pivot would work a looong time as intended. The fact that there are few delivered pieces that cannot be adjusted is not pivot design problem, they shouldn't left the factory in that state in the first place. Just an opinion.
 
Out of the 3 I have had, one had the pivot where no matter how hard I cranked the torx, the blade remained floppy.
The other two are perfect. Dialed in, ready to go. As stated earlier, their are some posts on here regarding some possible fixes.
I think it could be either a slightly oversize (length) pivot, or slightly under gauge bushings. Haven't got round to tinkering with my floppy one, but I think it's doable.
Cheers
 
A bit off topic, but does the Yojimbo 2 utilize the same pivot as the PM 2 ?
 
Received two Para2's yesterday, my sons arrived with slight side to side play and a touch up and down which he fixed by slight tightening. Mine is just perfect, my question is should I loctite it, or leave it alone? Thanks.
 
If it's not broke, don't fix it, right? I'd leave it alone if it were me. It is already perfect, wait until something happens to tinker with it. It might not ever happen.

I have two PM2s, a satin and a black. Both are perfect, blade-drop freely, with no blade play. One I bought new, the other off the exchange. The used satin-bladed one drops a little easier, but it is uncoated and that is normally the case, also.

If you cannot tune it out, just send it back to Spyderco and it will return as designed, like mine are and the others here that have not had the issues you mention. PITA, but it is too good a knife to have to use it in a condition for which it was not designed and to have the issues you describe. Knives are not supposed to be frustrating!

They are a joy to use when normal, and I've opened and closed my PM2s many more times than any other knife design, index-finger flicking them open then closing with one rotating hand motion, than I could ever count.

Literally over a thousand times on each, and no issues with either. I do it while watching tv without even looking at them while doing it. I can tell by the sound when they close without bouncing. It is barely perceptible.

I can do it with an Axis lock also, using my fingertip on the Axis bar, but I find the PM2 more enjoyable and slightly easier.
 
macknife12 said:
It does. Mine is solid, haven't heard of any issues though.
Cheers
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I haven't heard of any issues either. I have numerous Yo2's (S30V and S90V) and they all are very smooth opening and closing yet have a perfectly tight pivot. I find the Para2 and Yo2 to be excellent designs.
 
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